Why would you need an alternative, I hear you ask? Well simple. How about when you are using someone else’s phone for whatever reason and you don’t want to add a new Google account to their phone (which you can only delete by resetting the handset to factory clean), but you need an app urgently? Or you’re using a phone and don’t want it tied to Google at all (for example it’s a temporary loaner or evaluation unit)?

There are probably lots of other scenarios, including finding apps which are not allowed on the official market, but suffice to say, having a solid set of alternative markets you can use in an emergency is definitely a sensible move.

The list is missing one of my favourites though, which is Appbrain. It features a great instant download tool, a nice search function and a very clear interface. Anyway check them all out, and if you know of any more, pop them into the comments.

Nigel is the managing editor of the Red Ferret, as well as a freelance columnist for the Sunday Times newspaper in London. Loves tech and fancies himself as a bit of a futurist, but then don’t we all?

5 Comments

Certain app stores also have certain apps at different prices. I was reading a thread about people saying 69p for some popular apps in the Android Market was a really good deal, only for someone to come in later and say that they were free on GetJar. As usual, it pays to shop around.

Blake

March 16, 2012 10:03:23 pm

Android apps are far easier to pirate than ios apps. Just make sure you are getting your apps from a legitimate source and pay the pittance most developers ask for their apps or you won't have good apps available for your platform.